About Our team
Ian Hill
I’m a product-focused builder and inventor with a hands-on engineering mindset. I started my first company at 15 building playground systems, where I learned early that performance comes from material selection, repeatable fabrication methods, and designing for the failure modes you can’t see on day one. By integrating polypropylene components to reduce rot, moisture absorption, and maintenance-related degradation, I pushed my playground sets toward longer service life and more consistent field performance.
That same approach led to a fastener design that improved long-term grip and structural integrity by maintaining clamping force under real-world vibration and cyclic loading. After selling the playground business, I founded a structural steel hardware company and expanded my patent portfolio by engineering components used in fences, decks, and pergolas designed for efficient installation, load transfer, and durability at the connection points where most systems fail first.
Living on a houseboat in Canada sharpened my interest in dock engineering and the tradeoffs between different Great Lakes dock systems. After relocating to Texas, I applied that structural-and-hardware background to lake environments and corrosion challenges. Denali Docks began with a specific engineering problem: finding a dock system robust enough for Hillsdale Development. When the available options didn’t meet the requirements, I started building one, combining structural steel design, connection hardware expertise, and coating experience to create a lifetime dock system. The goal is straightforward: provide homeowners with a dock engineered to last, so it’s the last dock they need to buy.
Blake Bassett
I grew up on the lakes of Texas, where time on the water quickly turned into hands-on experience. I worked at a commercial marina doing dock maintenance and teaching ski lessons, learning early what it takes to keep waterfront structures safe, functional, and ready for real-world use.
For the past 21 years I’ve been on Cedar Creek Lake, where I’ve seen a wide range of dock construction methods—what holds up over time, what requires frequent repair, and what performs differently once it’s exposed to wind, waves, and changing water levels. Since 2004, I’ve also worked in the structural steel business, building deep experience in steel products, fabrication realities, and protective coating systems. I use that combined perspective to help lake property owners understand which materials and construction approaches fit their site conditions and long-term goals, so they can make clear, informed decisions.
- Materials in a marine environment: water exposure changes what “good” looks like—steel selection, hardware and connection details all matter.
- Coating systems: the right surface prep and coating choice help reduce corrosion and extend service life.
- Plan for lifecycle cost: comparing options by expected maintenance and longevity can be more useful than comparing price alone.